Toy explosive



Nov. 14, 1950 E. STOREY I 2,530,317

TOY EXPLOSIVE Filed May 25, 1944 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE TOY EXPLOSIVE Everett Storey, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,231

1 Claim. (01. 102-37) This invention relates to a toy explosive whichrealistically simulates various implements of warfare, such as a ship, abomb, etc,

An object of the invention is to provide a toy explosive which is causedto explode at the desired time by the chemical action of water withinthe device. Another object is to provide a device having a brittle shelland containing metallic sodium, the shell being designed to explode andshatter when water is permittedto enter and react with the sodiuin.

A more specific object is to provide a toy explosive in the form of aboat and which when inverted or immersed in a body of water will explodethrough chemical reaction caused by the water on the interior of theboat. Another specific object is to provide such a toy explosivesimulating a depth bomb which will sink in a body of water and whichwhenit reaches a predetermined depth will explode. A further object istoprovide such a toy depth bomb which can be adjusted to explode atvarious depths. Another object is to provide a toy aerial bomb which canbe dropped against an object which when it strikes will explode, theexplosion being set ofi throughchemical reaction on the interior of thebomb.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. l is a sectional view in elevation showing the explosive in theform of a boat; Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing the explosivein the form of a depth bomb; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, thesection being taken at line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view partly insection showing the explosive in the form of an aerial bomb; and Fig. 5is a fragmentary sectional view of the form shown in Fig. 4 showing thedevice in condition for explosion.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the toy explosive in the form of a shipcomprises a casing including a lower portion or shell I ll simulatingthe hull of a ship. A top or deck portion II completes the closure andis provided with various appurtenances simulating the different visibleequipment of a ship, the mast l2, the Smokestack I 3, etc.

The casing may be made of any suitable material, but preferably shouldbe formed of an easily broken material, such as a resinous plastic, sothat when the explosion takes place the structure will break easily. Thelower portion or shell II] should be imperforate and the interior hollowso that when the toy boat is placed on a body of water it will float,supported by this shell portion. However, the material from which thecasing is formed should preferably be heavier than water, so that whenthe boat is filled with water it will sink.

.On the interior of the boat and resting on the bottom is a piece ofmetallic sodium I4. The piece of sodium may take any form or shape, andmay be coated with a film of oil I5 or other coating material to protectthe metal from deterioration by contact with the air.

In the top II of the boat are a number of openings, one opening I6 inthe fore part of the boat, and the openings I1 and I8 aft. It will beseen that the casing forms a complete closure except for these openings.While there are here shown three such openings, it is understood thatthere may be any number of openings or perforations. The function of theopenings is to admit water to the interior of the boat when the boat isupturned or immersed.

In use, the boat may be placed on a body of water, such as in a tub,basin, pond or stream, and when in a game, or make-believe warfare, theboat is struck or in any way is caused to take water through either ofthe openings I6, l1 and I8, a series of events are started which resultin the boats being exploded.

When the water comes into contact with the metallic sodium I 4 on theboats interior, the water reacts violently with the sodium to producehydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas makes with the oxygen of the air insidethe boat an explosive mixture. This reaction between the water andsodium produces a heat which is sufiicient to ignite the sodium andserves to set off the explosion of the hydrogen-oxygen mixture. As aresult of the explosion, the casing is ruptured, and the boat sinks.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the invention takes the form of a depthbomb. The casing is formed in two pieces and is preferably made of aresinous plastic'material which is quite brittle so that upon explosionit will burst into fragments. The nose portion 20 is provided at its topwith a circular band 2| having a number of spaced apertures 22. Belowthe band 2| is a circular groove 23, and four grooves 24 equally spacedabout the circumference of groove 23 lead from this circular groove tothe top edge of the band. As will later appear more clearly, thefunction of grooves 23 and 24 are to cooperate with lugs on the otherpart of the casing to secure the two parts together.

The upper part 30 of the casing has a narrowed rear end portion 3| towhich are attached the laterally-extending vanes 32. These vanes serveto guide and direct the bomb as it is dropped through the air or water.On the lower edge of the part 30 is a circular lip 33 having fourequallyspaced inwardly-extending lugs 34. This lip is provided with anumber of spaced apertures 35, the size and spacing of which correspondwith the size and spacing of the apertures 22 in the band 2|. Inassembling the parts and 30, the lip 33 of the part is placed downwardlyover the band 2| of the other part,with the lugs 34 passing through thevertical grooves 24. Then with the lugs 34 in register with the circulargroove 23, the parts may be turned relative to each other to lock thestructure in assembled form. When the parts are in the relative angularposition illustrated in Fig. 3, the openings or apertures 35 and 22 arein complete register so that maximum size passages are provided. If theparts are turned slightly, the passages leading to the interior of thebomb are slightly decreased, and if the parts are turned further thepassages to the interior m'ay be completely closed. A set screw 36 isprovided to secure the parts .in any" desired angular. position withrespect to' each ther.

metallic sodium an explosive gaseous mixture will" be generated andexploded, as explained in connection with the embodiment illustrated inFig. 1.

The depth to which the bomb will descend in the water before-sufii'cientwater enters to explode the bomb can be regulated by'turning the partsas heretofore explained to permit a'slower orfaster entrance of waterinto-:thecasing; By thus increasing the size of the passages into thebomb, the bomb willbe caused to explode at a more shall'owzde'pth, andby decreasing "the size of thesepackages, the bomb can be made toexplodeiata greater depth.

The embodimentof theinvention illustrated in Figsi'and 5, isintended'tosimulate an aerial bomb; Theoutercasinglll may be ofthe samegeneral'formandsh'ape as the bomb of Figs. 2 and 3, except that it maybe formed in one .piece if desired;

On the interior of casing 40 is a second casing 'which'contains thepiece 5| of metallic sodium, andt'al'so contains air or other oxygencontaining gas. This second casing may be supported within the-firstcasing by the arms 52 extending between the casings.

In the space between casings and 50 is containediahydrogen-oxygenliquid, such as water or: hydrogen peroxide or the higheriperoxides;

Extending through the outer casing 40 at the nose thereof is a pin 4|having a point 42 extending toward the inner casing. This pin may besealed with the outer casing with cement 43 or other material suitablefor making a liquid-tight seal between the pin and the casing.

In use, the bomb device of Figs. 4 and 5 may be dropped through the airat any objective, and as it passes through the air the vanes 44 keep thebomb pointed straight. As the bombstrikes, the pin 4| will be pushed in,as illustrated'particularly in Fig. 5, to puncture or break the innershell 50. This permits the water or peroxide about the shell 5|! toenter and come into contact with the metallic sodium. Upon contact ofthe 'water with the sodium, a chemical reaction occurs, asheretoforeexplained, and an explosion results which shatters both of casings 40and 50,

I throwing liquid in all directions.

Instead of metallic sodium, any metal of the class consisting of'thevalkali metals andsthealkaline earth-metalsmay be used in the device" ofthe invention,.for example, potassiumJithium;

magnesium, barium or strontium. Sodium, however, isto be preferred'since it is readily available commercially; and reacts sufficientlyviolent- 1y with water while at the same time reacts sufficiently slowlyin air that with a protective film of oil or the like as'described, itmay bepreserved even in air.

Although the invention has been'described in' connection with particularembodiments,- it will be apparent that changes and modifications-may bereadily made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention;

I claim:

Atoy explosive comprising'a'casing containing on its interior airandalkali metal, saidcasing;

and its contents being heavier than' an equal vol-:

ume of water so that the casing will sink in a body of water, saidceasing having overlapping'wall portions, each of which is provided withan opening, said portions being movable with re-' spect to each othertobring the openings of'said: portions into different degrees ofregistry 'with'- each other, said openings permitting'the entry" ofwater into contact with said metal to provide:

with said air .an explosive mixture:

I EVERETT STOREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain AD. 1892

